The situation in the Middle East (Syria) - Security Council, 9920th meeting

Humanitarian needs remain immense, growing in complexity across Syria, senior official tells Security Council, noting shortfalls in funding.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:21:47
• Production Date: 21 May 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; RAJASINGHAM, RAMESH
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO; UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP; UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE - UNDOF
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; SYRIA SITUATION; VIOLENCE; TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE; PEACE AND SECURITY; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; AID PROGRAMMES; SANCTIONS; RECONCILIATION
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3399093
• Parent Id: 3397998
• Alternate Title: MTG SC 9920SYRIA 21 MAY 2025 AM

Description

The security and humanitarian situations in Syria remain precarious, top UN officials told the Security Council today, urging an end to sectarian violence — particularly involving Alawite and Druze communities — and warning of a deepening economic crisis and financing shortfall that is preventing vital humanitarian aid from reaching those in need. 

Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, welcomed recent announcements by the United States and the European Union to lift sanctions on Damascus and commended support from regional countries, notably Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar. But, despite these “historic developments”, “Syria faces significant structural challenges, with an economy ravaged by over a decade of war and conflict, and a host of other destabilizing factors”. 

• Briefer: Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria (via video-teleconference) 
• Briefer: Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director, Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva (via video-teleconference) 
• Statement: President of the Council, His Excellency Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Greece 
• Statements: Denmark, Russian Federation, United States of America, China, France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Pakistan 
• Statement: Somalia (on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia) 
• Statements: Panama, Republic of Korea, Slovenia 
• Statement: Syrian Arab Republic 
• Statements: Islamic Republic of Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia 

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

S/PV.9920